Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5559/di.20.3.02
Citizens' Beliefs about Desirable Parental Behavior towards Young Children
Ninoslava PEĆNIK
orcid.org/0000-0002-9723-5679
; Faculty of Law, Zagreb
Tanja RADOČAJ
; UNICEF Office in Croatia, Zagreb
Ana TOKIĆ
orcid.org/0000-0001-8332-3101
; Faculty of Law, Zagreb
Abstract
The aim of the research was to explore the Croatian citizens'
beliefs about desirable parental behavior towards children
younger than 3 years, and to examine if these could be
predicted on the basis of several social-demographic
variables. We collected the social-demographic data from
the representative sample (N=600), who also filled in the
Questionnaire of beliefs about desirable parental practices
towards young children. The results showed that, along with
the most present belief about the importance of parental
involvement, the belief about the importance of obedience
and child subordination to adults was highly represented.
Lower average agreement with corresponding statements
was found for the beliefs justifying non-responsiveness to
child's crying, corporal punishment and needlessness of
induction (explanation of demands and prohibitions).
Mentioned beliefs were found to be well predicted on the
basis of social-demographic data, especially education level,
followed by age, sex/gender and household income. This set
of predictors was least successful in predicting belief about
the importance of parental involvement, and most successful
in predicting belief about needlessness of induction. Less
educated and older citizens, with lower income, held beliefs
that were inconsistent with contemporary scientific knowledge
about optimal parental support to full realization of child's
developmental potential.
Keywords
parental beliefs; parenting; social-demographic characteristics; corporal punishment; early child development
Hrčak ID:
72434
URI
Publication date:
10.10.2011.
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